6 Common Plumbing Issues That Require A Plumber

Despite all the products you can buy these days at a home improvement store or even grocery store, plumbing issues are still quite a pain. Plumbing repairs range from simple to complex. While it would be ideal to be able to fix all of these problems yourself, that just isn’t always the case. Before you start to try to fix it yourself and end up flooding your floors, here are some of the most common plumbing issues that require the attention of a professional plumber.

Dripping Faucet

A dripping faucet can literally cause you to lose sleep. Besides being an annoying problem, it can also be an expensive problem. If left unrepaired, a dripping faucet can spill hundreds of gallons of water down your drain in a year, causing your water bill to increase by as much as 10%, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). For this reason, you should get a qualified plumber to repair a dripping faucet as soon as possible. Some of the common causes of dripping faucets include hard water buildup, corroded valve seats, loose parts, worn out seals, broken plumbing, improper installation of washer, worn out washer, failing “o” rings and loose handles. At this point, it is important to note that some taps use ceramic plates instead of washers to form a seal and hold back the flow of water. Such taps are often lever-operated and require maintenance less often than taps that use rubber washers. However, they are generally harder to fix, making them unsuitable for DIY repairs.

Burst Plumbing Pipes

Burst pipes are particularly common in the winter when water tends to freeze and expand. Unfortunately, a burst plumbing pipe can cause significant water damage. For instance, a single pipe running at from 4 to 8 gallons per minute can potentially cause tens of thousands of dollars in water damage in no time, according to WaterSignal. In particular, the water may damage your flooring, walls and furniture. At the same time, it can potentially compromise the structural integrity of your home as well as cause mold infestation. For this reasons, you should get a qualified plumber to inspect your plumbing regularly for any signs of damage and carry out the necessary repairs. This is particularly important because some pipes, such as pipes inside walls or ceiling, may not be easily accessible. Some of the common causes of burst pipes include extreme temperatures, water pressure buildup, corrosion and moving pipes.

Leaky Pipes

Similar to burst pipes, leaky pipes can lead to water damage and high water bills. While leaks happen at joints, replacing a leaky U-joint can be messy, so you should get a plumber to do it. Possible causes of leaky pipes include bad workmanship, unregulated water pressure, clogs, debris buildup, loose joints, temperate changes and corrosion.

Clogged Drains

Different drains clog due to different reasons. For instance, most bathroom drain clogs occur when skin flakes, hair, soap scum and dirt accumulate on the walls of the drainage pipes. Clogged toilets, on the other hand, happen why people try to flush down items dissolve in water, such as cotton-tipped swabs and dental floss. Kitchen sink drains clog occurs due to the buildup of detergent soap scum, cooking grease and undissolved food particles on the walls of the drainage pipes. Some of the common signs of a clogged drain include pools of water forming around shower drains, water backing up out of a sink drain, foul odor from the kitchen skin area and drains making gurgling noises. It is important to note that, if your drain line was improperly designed or installed, it is more likely to clog. For this reason, if you regularly experience this problem, you should get a plumber to inspect your drain line. Additionally, regular preventative maintenance will help keep your drainage pipes clean and free of any obstructions.

Low Water Pressure

This problem may manifest itself in different ways, from faucets taking a relatively long time to fill a bathtub or sink to water trickling instead of gushing from a faucet. This can happen either at a single fixture or throughout your home. It is important to note that this problem can be related either to your home’s plumbing system or to the municipal water supply. For this reason, you need to establish the source of the problem before you engage a professional plumber. If you establish your local municipal water supply company is not the source of the problem, you should get a professional plumber to inspect your plumbing system and identify the source of the problem. The possible causes of low water pressure include corrosion/debris buildup inside piping and plumbing leaks.

Running Toilet

A running toilet means wasted water and unnecessarily high water bills. Toilets run due to various reasons, but the most common one is probably a leaky flapper valve, which is the valve that allows water to pass from the tank to the bowl. Other reasons include an imbalanced float or loose fill tube. However, in some cases, the reasons are more complex, meaning it is best to engage a plumber.